Weeding-machine.



11. -B. ETHERIDGB. WEEDING lmmolnmi.

" APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 8, 1010.

989,136. Patented ,4\.pr.11,1911i l BHEBTHHEBT 1.

H. B. ETHBRIDGB;

WEEDING MAOHINE. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. B, 1910. l 989,1 36.Y PatentedApr. 11,1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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' attowwgo/ HALLS B. ETHERIDGE, 0F

NORTHWEST, VIRGINIA.

WEEDING-MAGHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 11, 1911.

Application led September 8, 1910. Serial No. 580,969.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HALLS B. ETHERIDGE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Northwest, in the county of Norfolk and State of Virginia,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in feeding-Machines;and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.v

This invention relates to an improved weeding machine for cotton, corn,and similar articles.

One object of the invention is to provide a simply constructed andefficient machine in which the weeding hoe is operated transversely ofthe machine and also with a sidewise reciprocating motion.

With this and other objects in view, the invention consists of certainnovel features of construct-ion, combination and arrangement of parts aswill be more fully described and particularly pointed out in theappended claims.

In the accom anyingy drawings Figure 1 represents a si e elevation ofthis improved weeder with one of the ground wheels removed; Fig. 2 .is atop plan view thereof; Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section taken onthe line 3 3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a rear elevation thereof; and Fig. 5is a perspective view of the hoe and its operating parts detached.

In the embodiment illustrated, a pair of long thills 1 and 1a are shownconnected intermediately of their ends by a cross bar 2 to which theusual swingletree is attached. The rear ends of these thills areprovided on their upper faces with pillows, as 3, in which an axle 4 isrevolubly mounted, the ends of said axle projecting beyond the outerfaces of said thills. Ground wheels 5 and 6 are mounted on theprojecting ends of said axle 4, the wheel 5 being xed to the axle andthe wheel 6 loose thereon.

A frame for supporting the operating cog wheels of the machine ismounted on said thills and preferably comprises two substantiallyinverted V-shaped side members 7 and 8, the member 7 being mounted onthe outer face of one of the thills between it and the fixed wheel 5,and the other member 8 mounted on the inner face of the other thill, oneend of said members being fixed to the thills in advance of the axle andthe other end being provided with apertures through which the axle 4extends.

A large gear wheel 9 is fixed to the axle 4 between the thills andmeshes with a pinion 10 secured to the hub of a smaller gear wheel 11,the shaft of which is revolubly mounted in and connects the apex of theframe mem bers 7 and 8. This Wheel 11,1neshes with a pinion 12 fixed toa shaft 13, revolubly mounted in the front portion of the frame. A crankmember 14 is fixed at one end to the shaft 13 and at its other end isconnnected by means of a pitman 15 with a hoe operating crank 16, now tobe described. This crank shaft 16 extends vertically through the thill 1and the pillow mounted thereon and the upper end thereof is bentlaterally at 16, and then upwardly, the upwardly extending portion 16",being pivotally connected with the' pitman 15. The lower end of theshaft 16 which projects below the thill 1 is bent laterally in a planeat right angles to the laterally extending arm 16 of the upper portionthereof and 'is connected with a hoe 17 preferably by means of a coiledspring 18 which is wound on the handle of the hoe 17 with the inner endthereof fixed to said handle, and its outer end pivotally engaged withsaid depending arm 16c of the crank shaft 16. Another coiled spring 19is engaed at one end with the neck of thev hoe an at its opposite end isconnected with one end of a lever 20. This lever 20 is fulcrumedintermediately of its ends on the axle 4, between the hub of the gearwheel 9 and the inner face of the thill 1. This lever is designed toraise and lower the hoe and is provided with a spring pressed dog 21,adapted to engage a segmental rack 22, fixed to the inner face of theadjacent thill whereby said lever is held in adjusted position. A handlever 23 is also pivotally engaged with the neck of the hoe 17 and isprovided at its free end with a handle or gripping member 24 arranged inosition to be readily gripped by the driver or guiding the hoe. A seat25 for the driver is referably arranged at the rear of the mac ine andas shown is mounted on a U-shaped rod arranged between the ends of thethills with the ends thereof extending downwardly through said thillsand bent laterally to form foot rests for the driver.

The hoe 17 may be made of any suitable or desired construction but isherein shown in the form of an ordinary weeding hoe and Y signed to beoperated by the driver to cause the hoe to thin or cut out cotton orcorn at a point desired and to leave the stand where it iswanted. s

From the foregoing description taken in connection ywith theaccompanying drawings, the construction and operation of the inventionwill be readily understood without requiring a more extendedexplanation.

Various changes in the form, proportion and the minor details ofconstruction may be resorted vto without departing from the principle orsacricing any of the advane tages of this invention as defined in theappended claims.

Vhat I claim as my invention is 1. In a weeding machine, a'supportingstructure comprising a pair of thills having their rear ends extended toform an axle support, pillows arranged on said thill extensions, an axlerotatably mounted in said pillows and projecting at opposite endstherebeyond, a ground wheel fixed to one end of said axle, anotherwheel' loose on the other end of said axle, a gear wheel fixed on saidaxle, between said thill extensions, side members secured to saidthills, gear wheels revolubl mounted between said side members andoperable by the gear on said axle,

a crank on the shaft of one of said wheels, a vertically disposed crankshaft extending through one of said thill extensions and having a crankarm at its upper. end connected with the first mentioned crank, a crankarm at the lower end of said vertical shaft extending in a planeat'right angles to the plane of the arm at the upper end thereof, and ahoe connected with said lower crank arm whereby a transversely andlongitudinally reciprocating motion is 'simultaneously imparted thereto.l

2. In a weeding machine, a supporting structure, an axle rotatablymounted therein and projecting at opposite ends therebeyond, a groundwheel fixed to one end of said axle, another wheel loose on the otherend .of said axle, a gear Wheel fixed on said axle,up right memberssecured to said structure, gear wheels revolubly mounted between saidupright members and operable by lt-he gear on said axle, a crank on theshaft .of one `of said wheels, a vertically disposed vcrank shaftextending through said structure and having a crank arm at its upper end.connected with the crank of the gear shaft, a crank arm at the lowerend of said vertical shaft extending in a plane at right angles to thecrank arm at the upper end thereof, a hoe connected with said lowercrank arm whereby a reciprocating motion is imparted thereto, andadjustable means for varying the cutting depth of the hoe.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

T. H. RUSSELL, M. I-I. BLoUNT.

Copies of this patent mav be obtained for five c ents each, byaddressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C.

